The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-07-28
A LASSOOING LESSON.
An Incident in the Life of an Eminent Ed
ftorial Philosopher.

/ 49, etSipAA VI = Gt1IAY fiOl NtS, DEASs
! chickens. and other domestic prod
uee- 1t was in the Berryessa district.
few miles northeast of San Jose,
and seven miles from Alviso, at the
head Of San Francisco bay naviga-
| ton.
One day, early in August, l was out
| III the mountains east of the valley,
| hunting after my favorite saddle
horse. | was on foot, and carried a
''riatta" in my hand-a genuine Span
| ish lasso made of rawhide, same as is
universally made by Mexicans, native
Californians, and ''vacqueros" gener-
| ally All had to do when | found
my horse was to throw the riatta over
his head, take half-hitch around his
! nose, leap upon his back, and ride
/ hona But did not find my horse.
| After tramp of three or four hours
| was getting back homeward, hungry
and 'ired. As passed down through
| the foothills just east of Niles ranch, /
| spied somebody sitting on rock. He
was queer-looking gentleman, of
medium stature, with a gray coat,
| light felt hat, white whiskers away
under his chin, and peculiar look
| generally. He had a note book in his
hand and was so busily engaged in
writing that he did not notice my APP
| proach until l was within a few feet
| of him
To my salutation of "Good evening,
sir, he courteously responded; then
said care you acquainted around
| here, sir?"
'4es, sir, for some years past. 1
am ranching just below yonder, where
| yon see that big evergreen tree"
Tie whole valley lay spread out in
pastoral panoramic beauty, checkered
OFF 'ato neatly-fenced farms, with
lovely groves, orchards, vineyards,
cottage dwellings, and farm-houses
scattered all over the landscape.
''Now that's Alviso," said he, .'but
what road is that running south from
it among the trees?'
That's the Santa Clara road, sir.
| and the town you see there among the
trees is Santa Clara, where the old
Mission church is, and the old orchard,
established by the Jesuit fathers a
hundred years ago"
He noted this down and asked:
"What's that heavy row of trees be-
yond Santa Clara, to the south
ward?'
"Taat's the Alameda, a beautiful
shaded road. three miles long, from
Sant,s Clara to the pueblo, or city, of
San Jose. 1t has two rows of shade
| trees on each side, planted about a
hun'tcad years ago by the native In
dians. under the direction of the
priests. Every Sunday this road used
| to be swept clean, and the holy faith
ers, or padres, with their congrega-
ton, Ised to march in procession from
the paeblo to the church at the Mission
for drFine service. That's San Jose
that yau see Oft to the left.
y :, know; / was there yester-
day. Its a very nice town.
He eyed me somewhat curiously and
remarked: That's what they call a
lasso, isn't it?"
Yes, sir. I've been out hunting
after a stray horse, but couldn't find
him, so I'm Just getting home. I'll get
after him on horseback tomorrow"
'But | always thought the lasso had
to be used exclusively by a man on
horseback. How would you run a
horse down on foot and catch him
with that rope?"
Dear me, no; [ wouldn't run after
the horse at all. I'd just approach
him quietly, speak to him gently, and
slip the rope over his neck But if he
tried to play shy I'd just throw the
loop of the lassO open, this way, and
drag it along behind me thus, watch
my chance, and give it side cast this
way, getting it over his head before lie
had 4 chance TO dodge"
The Old gent had been sitting sort Of
sideways on the rock all this time,
from some peculiar reason. as he sub
sequently explained, but right here ho
arose, laid down his e-book ex-
claiming: That's good; in fact, / may
say cleyerly done. If you can lassO a
wild Texas steer Us well as you did
that bush, all You have to do is to 90
down into Colorado or New Mexico
and make your fortune. Let me try
that"
..All right, sir. hold it just this way
and swing it a few times around
your head after the regular horseback
style, and give it a cast over the crit
ter's horns, like this. y
Il see,' said the old chap, with an in
creased twinkle of his pleasant gray
eyes. Here goes for goa; you just
stand STILL"
His cast was eminently successful,
for he caught himself by the left leg
and right shoulder.
Bravo" said I.1-rThats a fancy
cast to catch the animal by the shank.
1t takes an experienced vacquero to do
that If you hadn't raised your hoof
just as you threw YOU couldn't have
done it. That's chance they have to
watch
IAN right; but see here now; Just
imagine nc a bullock. and I'll hold up
my arms this way, like horns"
just so, and you just buck around
like wild steer in corral" The
| old fellow did jerk himself about
some, but with a Scientific whirl or
two OF the lasso | let 90 and caught
him very near around the waist.
''That'll do" shouted he, as | gave
the lasso lively jerk to make him re-
alize the situation. You'll do You
can go home"
Thank you, sir; we've had a little
fun; and now, may l ask your
name:'
"Oh, yes, certainly. Its Greeley;
Horace Greeley"
The devilI'
''Oh, no, my dear boy: it's only me.
Shall be glad to meet you again, some
time. Good evening"
Good evening"" responded |, as l
turned homeward, musing over the
queer adventure and the fact that /
had actually interviewed and practi-
cally lassoed the eminent philosopher
| and renowned editor of the New Y York
Tribune, Horace Greeley.
An evening or two afterward / at
tended public lecture he delivered
from stand erected on the main
street of San Jose. to an immense au-
dience. He was suffering consider
ably from lameness, the result of nu-
nerous boils, which he explains on
page 3S2 of his "Recollections of a
Busy Life"